New South Wales Carnival of Cups series opens this Friday.

This year’s New South Wales Carnival of Cups series commences this Friday evening with the running of the $100,000 Bidgee at the Riverina Paceway Wagga. Scheduled as the closing event on the program at 9.10pm, the 2800 metre journey will be the ultimate staying test for runners.

Outstanding three year old Palladium is ideally drawn in two if the emergency comes out and if he gets to the front and has a breather then he should run a fast last half mile. Trainer Brad Hewitt has two other runners in the event namely the vastly improved Forever On The Punt and Its Confidential.

Palladium’s dangers would appear to be on the second line headed by evergreen pacer Max Delight who’s always a danger in this type of event. Jason Grimson has Our Sunset Delight and Hesitate engaged with the latter still looking to obtain a berth in the Eureka at Menangle on 21 November.

Nyack who was a tremendous second to Captains Mistress in the Victoria Cup should be running on at the finish if he’s not too far off the leading pack.

The other highlight of the night is the $75,000 TAB Regional Championship Final. Leading trainer Jackson Painting has three runners engaged and he’ll be driving the promising Seaside Boulevard from the second row while stable mates Little Sassy Boy and Atworthy Rocker are well drawn on the front row.

Watermain Lady who has won her last six on end including her impressive heat win on Tuesday is awkwardly drawn on the outside of the front row but she has high speed and will be hard to beat.

Friday night also the Group 1 $200,000 Retravision Golden Nugget for Four year olds at Gloucester Park in Perth with a high quality field engaged. The barrier draw has been kind to Runkle Crunch and if he leads then he’ll take no end of beating with his obvious danger Mad Monday drawn out in six.

The other highlight at Gloucester Park is the Group 2 $100,000 Norms Daughter for mares and the inform Delightful Peg is ideally drawn to continue her winning way. However Copy Cat Queen although on the second row is racing in great heart and the ever capable Penny Black is always a chance in this type of race.

Patrons at Menangle will have another opportunity to see Loucasso one more time before the Eureka in a fortnight’s time. Trainer Seaton Grima has him set for the 2300 metre event which is the Eureka event so this should top him off nicely before the big race.

Another top quality feature race is the Sue Kelly Ladyship that has brought together a keenly contested affair. Victorian trainer Emma Stewart will have her star mares The Art of Success and Let Her Roll engaged and they square off against last week’s Breeder Challenge Final winner Gunna Reload. Rickie Alchin will have his noted speedsters Golly Gee Fellas and Sugar Pie Honey engaged as well as his star mare Lux Aeterna who is in her final season of racing.

Finally James Rattray has a chance to impress a slot holder for the Eureka when his three year old Alert Bay who has been a model of consistency races in the three year old where he’ll clash with another of Emma Stewart’s runners in Most Exciting.

At Melton, Fox Dan’s connections will be eyeing off a Eureka spot as they have him engaged in a Free For All where he’ll meet Bulletproof Boy and New Shuffle. And in the final event confirmed Eureka starter Bettor Beach will line up against open pacers but the three year old filly should be far too strong over the 1720 metre trip.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink